The New England Patriots released safety Jabrill Peppers on Friday, ending his three-year run with the team.
He played in 38 games with 26 starts, 178 combined tackles, 10 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and three interceptions in his run with the Patriots. The news came as a surprise given how important Peppers has been to the team's defense over the last three years.
He was named a team captain last season, and many expected him to vie for a starting job—or at the very least play a key role—for Patriots coach Mike Vrabel's reconstructed defense.